Kalamazoo’s Longest Serving Mayor Hopewell Stepping Down Next Year

Kalamazoo has had a rich history of mayors since its inception but none richer than the longest serving Mayor in the cities' history, Bobby Hopewell. However, his time on the seat will be coming to an end next year as he has announced after his current term ends, he will not be seeking re-election.

Hopewell, who is currently in his 6th consecutive term, made this startling announcement yesterday at the end of the City Commission meeting according to MLive, and said he would much rather focus on the work at hand that still needs to be done, rather than the legacy he will leave behind:

It's time for other people to do this stuff and allow me to do whatever else. I really want to dive into our neighborhoods, because that is the work I came from and I think sometimes when you sit here (on the dais) you can move away from that.

Hopewell added:

How long have I been thinking (about not seeking re-election)? You think about it all the time. One of the things I wanted to do was say something early. There's plenty that someone can do and I've been here a long time.

Hopewell's term will be over in 2019 with 18 months remaining in his term, still enough time, as he said, to have big plans for his time left in office.